Structural building element



Dec. 30, 1958 K. w. couss ET AL 2,866,235

STRUCTURAL BUILDING ELEMENT Filed Feb. 25, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 K ozzsa Dec. 30, 1958 K. w. coUsE ET AL" 2,866,235

STRUCTURAL BUILDING ELEMENT Filed Feb. 25, 1957 2.Sheets-Sheet 2 United State sfPatent STRUCTURAL BUILDING ELEMENT Kibbey W. Couse and Robert M. Sutphen, Newark, N. J., asslguors to Couse Manufacturing, Inc., Newark, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 25, 1957, Serial N 0. 642,218

7 Claims. (Cl. 20-15) This invention relates to a structural building element and more particularly to an elongated square cross-sectional shaped element having an elongated, enlarged bottomed groove extending from end-to-end at each side thereof.

The structural building elements of our invention are adapted for use as vertical, horizontal and diagonally extending posts or beam members in building structures. in addition, the building elements may be used to form a framework of a triangular-shape within which panel members of various types and compositions may be supported. The structural building elements are particularly useful in the construction of portable buildings of the type which are easily set-up and knocked down again for use at another location.

The building element comprises an elongated member having a generally square cross-sectional shape. A groove is provided in each of the four sides, and extends from one end to the other. The grooves have a relatively narrow throat portion which terminates in a lower en'- larged bottom portion which is preferably of a generally cylindrical shape. The cross-sectional shape is such that the element may be easily formed by an extrusion process. Although the element may be made of metal, wood, plastic or other structural material, it will be understood that if it is to be manufactured by an extrusion process, metal and/or plastic are preferred, as they are easily extruded. The extruded member may be cut into any desired length and at any angle.

An object of this invention is the provision of a structural building element for use in forming a building structure framework.

An object of this invention is the provision of a structural building element of a generally square-shaped cross section and having an elongated groove on each side extending from end-to-end thereof.

An object of this invention is the provision of a triangular-shaped building member comprising a pair of perpendicularly oriented equal-length frame members connected together at one end thereof, a diagonal frame member interconnecting the free ends of the said equallength frame members, each of the said frame members being of a square cross-sectional shape and having an elongated enlarged bottomed groove along the center of each edge thereof,'the outer and inner edge grooves extending about the entire outer and inner periphery, respectively, of the building members, the said face grooves forming a continuous groove on each of the framework throat portion of the said grooves and attached to the said enlarged member, the said plate member having a projecting member extending longitudinally beyond the end of the said elongated enlarged member, the said elon gated enlarged member being adapted to longitudinally slide within the enlarged bottomed portion of the said groove in one of the said structural elements whereby the said plate member extends outwardly of the said groove through the said narrow throat portion thereof, the said longitudinally projecting plate member being adapted to be inserted into the groove in the other said structural element positioned at right angles to the said first structural element, thus completing the connection between the said structural elements.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description when taken with the accompanying drawings. It will be understood the drawings are not to be construed as defining the scope or limits of the invention, reference being bad for the latter purposes to the appended claims.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote like parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional perspective view of our novel structural element;

Figure 2 is a front view of a novel triangular-shaped structural building member made with the structural elements of our invention;

Figure 3 is a side view of the member shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front view of the building member shown in Figure 2 and including a solid interior panel member;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a building member having a plastic panel attached thereto;

Figure 6 is an exploded view of two building elements which may be used to form sides of the building member shown in Figure 2;

Figure 7 is an exploded view of portions of two building elements which may be used to form the corners of the building member shown in Figure 2;

Figure 8 is an exploded view of the portions of elemenfs shown in Figure 7, and showing the elements joined together to form complete corners; t

Figure 9 is a fragmentary front view of an extruded structural building element cut into various length and size sections;

Figure 10 is an exploded view of two building elements with the ends properly beveled to form a portion of the building member of the type shown in Figure 2;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of a building structure erected upon a concrete slab;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a connecting device for joining building elements;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of several of our novel structural building elements attached to a concrete base;

Figure 14 is a sectional view taken on line 14-14 of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a fragmentary perspective view of a plurality of building elements joined together; and

Figure 16 is a fragmentary sectional view of a building structure made of our structural building elements.

Reference is now madeto Figure 1 of the drawings wherein a structural building element designated 20 is shown. The building element is of an elongated and generally square cross-sectional shape. Each side of the building element is provided with an elongated groove 21 which extends longitudinally of the element alongthe center of each side. Each of the grooves has a relae tively narrow throat portion 22 terminating in an err-- larged bottomed portion 23 which is of a generally cylindrical-shaped form. The structural building elements may be made in any desired lengths and the ends cut, or beveled, at any desired angle.

Reference is now made to Figure 2 of the drawings wherein there is shown a triangular-shaped building member 24 constructed of structural building elements of the type shown in Figure l. Triangular-shaped building members constructed with building elements of a different cross-sectional shape are described in our copending patent application Serial No. 616,298, filed October 16, 1956, and entitled Structural Panel Memher. The building member 24 is in the form of a right isosceles triangle having two equal length sides 20a and along diagonal side 20b. The sides may be of any desired length; as for example, from several inches to several feet. It will be noted that the corners of the triangular-shaped building member are formed in such a manner that the grooves 21, on the face of the building member, interconnect to form a continuous triangular-shaped groove, and that none of the grooves 21 in the face of the building member extend to the edge of the member. The construction illustrated is stronger than the type wherein the face grooves extend to the edge of the member. Two different types of corner constructions which may be used to form the triangularshaped building member of Figure 2 are described below.

Reference is now made to Figure 3 of the drawings, wherein there is shown an edge view of the triangularshaped building member 24 shown in Figure 2. It will be noted that the groove 21 on the edge of the member extends the entire length of the edge. It will be understood that the grooves in the other two edges of the building member also extend the entire length of the edges.

The building member 24, made of the elongated building elements 20a and 20b, is in the form of an open triangular-shaped framework. If desired, the framework may be enclosed with a panel, or screen, or other suitable member. Referring to Figure 4 of the drawings, a building member 24a is shown, which includes a solid center panel member 26, which fits within the inside edge groove 21 (not shown in Figure 4), and is supported therewithin. The panel member 26 may be made of metal, wood, plastic, or any other suitable material.

Reference is now made to Figure 5 of the drawings, wherein there is shown a connection between an elongated building element 20 and a panel member 26. This type of connection may be used to connect the center panel member 26 of Figure 4- to the triangular-shaped framework. The panel member 26 comprises a solid plastic center member 27 and a pair of face members 28 attached thereto. The center member 27 is provided with an elongated arm-member 29 having a cross-sectional shape which is substantially the same as thecrosssection of the groove 21 in the element 20, and which fits therewithin. A strong joint is thus formed between the center member 27 and building element 21. The face members 28, which may be made of plastic impregnated fiber glass cloth, cover the center member 27 and extend over the face of the building element 20. The edges of the face members 28 fit in the grooves 31 in the building element 21 .and, in this manner, further strengthen the connection between the building element 20 and panel member 26.

Reference is now made to Figures 6, 7 and 8 wherein there are shown exploded views of various shapes and lengths of building elements which may be joined to gether to form a triangular-shaped building member 24 of the type shown in Figure 2. Referring first to Figure 6, two lengths of building element 20 are therein shown, which elements are designated 20a and 20b. building elements 20a and 20b may be used to form the sides of the building member 24 shown in Figure 2. Two of the building elements 20a'and one of the build- The ing elements 20b are needed; the two shorter elements 20a forming the short perpendicularly oriented sides, while the larger element 20b forms the long diagonal side. The building elements 20a and 20b have substantially square-shaped ends. Corners for the triangular-shaped building member are formed by the use of the building elements 20c and 20d shown in Figure 7. Referring to Figure 7, the building element 20c is in the form of a right isosceles triangle while the building element 20d is of a right triangular-shape. As seen in Figure 8, a pair of the building elements 20c are joined together along their long diagonal side to form a squareshaped corner member. The resulting square-shaped corner member, shown in Figure 8, is used to form the right-angle corner connection between two of the short side members 20a shown in Figure 6. Each of the corner connections between the short sides 20a and the long side 20b is formed by joining two of the corner members 20d together along their long diagonal sides to form a quadrangular-shaped member, which member includes a forty-five (45) degree angle corner, as shown in Figure 8. The two short sides of the resulting corner member are fastened to the ends of the side members 20a and 20b to form the corner connection therebetween.

As mentioned above, the structural building element 20 of our invention may be made of metal, wood, plastic, or other suitable material, but, preferably is made of metal or plastic material, which may be extruded into the desired form. Reference is now made to Figure 9 of the drawings, wherein there is shown a long section of building element 20, which is cut up into smaller sections for use in forming a building member 24 of the type shown in Figure 2. The length of building element 20, shown in Figure 9, includes two side members 20a, one long side member 20b, two corner elements 200 and four corner elements 20d; all of which may be used toform the building member 24 shown in Figure 2 in a manner described above. It will be noted that there is no waste when the various members are formed in this manner.

Reference is now made to Figure 10 of the drawings, wherein there are shown two side members 20a and 20b, which maybe used to form the sides of a building member 24 of the type shown in Figure 2, without the need for corner members of the type shown in Figures 7 and 8. Then ends of the members 20a and 20b are properly beveled to form mitered joints between the members. (The short side 20a is provided with a 45 degree beveled end 33 and a 22.5 degree beveled end 34, while the diagonal side 20b is provided with two 22.5 degree beveled ends 34.) Two short side members 20a are joined together at the 45 degree bevel 33 to form a right angle corner and a diagonal 20b is connected between the ends thereof at the 22.5 degree bevels 34. The members 20a and 20b may be cut from a long length of building element 20. with no waste by'alternately cutting two short length sides 20a and a long side 20b. When the side members 20a and 20b are used to form a triangularshaped building member 24, fewer parts are used than when the building member is formed of the side members 20a and 20b, and include corner elements 200 and 20d, as shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8. This, then, results in an inherently stronger construction.

Reference is now made to Figure ll of the drawings, wherein there is shown a fragmentary perspective view of a building structure utilizing the building elements 20 of our invention. A firm, permanent foundation for a building may be formed by embedding the elements 20e and 20 in a concrete slab 36. In Figure 11, one of the elements 20e is positioned perpendicularly to the second embedded element 20f. An upright element 20g is supported upon one of the elements 202 by means of connecting devices 38. A triangular-shaped building member. 24, having a centerpanel member 26, is mounted upon the one element 20f in the concrete and against the upright element 20g and attached thereto by any suitable means.

Reference is now made to Figure 12 of the drawings, wherein there is shown an enlarged perspective view of the connecting device 38. The connecting device comprises an elongated enlarged member 39, which is of a generally cylindrical shape and which is adapted to fit in the enlarged bottomed portion 23 of a groove 21. A thin plate member 41, which is somewhat thinner than the 7'.

width of the throat portion 22 of a groove 21, is attached longitudinally of the elongated enlarged member 39 and extends radially therefrom. The plate member 41 has integrally formed therewith, and extending longitudinally of the elongated member 39, a projecting member 42. The projecting member 42 is adapted to extend through the narrow throat portion 22 of a groove 21, in one building element 20, while the elongated enlarged member 39 extends longitudinally within the enlarged bottomed portion 23 of the groove in a perpendicularly extending building element 20 to form a completed connection of the type shown in Figure 11.

Reference is now made to Figure 13 wherein a verti cally extending building element 20h is shown supported in a concrete base 36a. The post 20h is embedded in the concrete base and therefore needs no additional support. In Figure 14 of the drawings, wherein there is shown a sectional view taken on line 14--14 of Figure 13, it is seen that the concrete fills the grooves 21 in the building element 20h thereby firmly supporting the building element. Referring again to Figure 13 of the drawings, it will be noted that the horizontally extending building element 20j may be only partially embedded in the concrete base 36a, if desired.

In Figure 15 of the drawings, a fragmentary perspective view of a vertically extending post having four horizontally extending arms attached adjacent the top thereof, is shown. Referring to Figure 15, a pair of building elements k and 20m are shown joined together in a side-by-side manner to form a vertically extending post. (The building elements 20k and 20m are joined together by any suitable means. A generally dumb-bell shaped connecting member may be used, which member is inserted longitudinally of the abutting building elements forming a connection therebetween.) The building element 20k is the Width of a building element longer than the building element 20m. A horizontally extending building element 20n rests upon, and is fastened to, the top of the building element 20m. A second horizontally extending building element 20! extends perpendicularly from the side of the building element 2011 while a pair of building elements 200 and 20q extend from the side of the vertically extending building element 20k.

In Figure 16 of the drawings, a peaked-roof type of building is shown, which is made of our novel building elements. Referring to Figure 16, the building comprises, building elements 20a and 20b, which are joined together to form the triangular-shaped building members 24. Two of the building members 24 are provided with center panel members 26. One panel member having a screen type panel member 26', is shown through a portion of a panel 26 which is broken away. It will be understood that many different types of buildings may be constructed with our novel building element and that the building shown in Figure 16 is merely illustrative.

Having noW described our invention in detail, in accordance with the patent statutes, various changes and modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in this art, and it is intended that such changes and modiiications shall fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as recited in the following claims.

We claim: I

1. A triangular-shaped building member comprising a pair of perpendicularly oriented, equal-length, building elements connected at one end thereof; a diagonally extending building element interconnecting the outer ends of the said equal length building elements, each of the said building elements being of a square cross-sectionalshape and having an elongated, enlarged bottomed groove along the center of each edge, thereof; the outer and inner edge grooves extending about the entire outer and inner periphery, respectively, of the said building member, the said face grooves in each face of the building member forming a continuous groove on each of the building member faces.

2. The invention as recited in claim 1 including a plane triangular-shaped panel member having edge portions extending into the inside edge grooves of the said building member.

3. A structural building member comprising three elon gated and generally square-shaped cross-sectional building elements, each of the elements having an elongated groove on each side which extends from end-to-end thereof, each of the said grooves having a narrow throat portion and an enlarged bottomed portion, and means joining the said building elements together in a triangular shape.

4. The invention as recited in claim 3, wherein two of the said building elements are of equal length and the third element is longer than the other two, each of the said two equal length building elements having one degree beveled end and a 22.5 degree beveled end, the said third building element having both ends beveled at 22.5 degrees, the said 45 degree beveled ends of the said equal-length building elements being joined to form a rnitered joint, the said 22.5 degree beveled ends of the said long building element being joined to the said 22.5 degree beveled ends of the said equal-length building elements forming rnitered joints thereat.

5. The invention as recited in claim 5, wherein the said building elements terminate in perpendicular ends and the said means joining the said elongated building elements together comprises a pair of triangular-shaped building lements at each joint.

6. A connecting device for joining a pair of elongated structural building elements, the said structural building elements having elongated grooves therein along the sides thereof which grooves have a narrow throat portion and terminate in an enlarged bottom portion, the said connecting device comprising an elongated enlarged member of substantially identical cross-section as the enlarged bottom portion of the said grooves, a thin plate member of substantially the same thickness as the narrow throat portion of the said groove and attached to the said elongated enlarged member, a projecting member integrally formed with the said plate member and extending longitudinally past the end of the said elongated enlarged member, the said elongated enlarged member being adapted to longitudinally slide within the enlarged bottom portion of the said groove in one of the said building elements whereby the said plate member extends outwardly of the groove through the said narrow throat portion thereof, the said integrally formed projecting member being adapted to extend into the groove in the other said structural building element thereby forming a joint therebetween. 1

7. A method of forming a right-isosceles triangularshaped building member of an elongated square crosssectional-shaped member having an elongated groove in the center of each side and extending from end-to-end thereof, the said method comprising cutting off from the elongated member two equal length side elements with flat ends for use in forming the equal length sides of the triangular-shaped building member, cutting off from the elongated member a side element longer than the two equal length elements and with flat ends for use in forming the long diagonal side of the building member, cutting off two right isosceles triangular-shaped corner elements from the elongated member for use in forming the right angle corner of the building member, cutting 7 off four substantially identical quadrangular-shaped corner References Cited in the file of this patent elements each having a pair of sides extending at an angle of 22.5 degrees, joining a corner element to each UNITED STATES PATENTS I fiat end of the said side elements, and joining the corner 792,979 Fulghum June 20, 1905 elements together to form a right-isosceles triangular- 5 2,091,061 Waugh Aug.2'4, 1937 shaped building member. 2,278,956 Wagner Apr. 7, 1942 

